A 19-year-old Lake Mary man with several prior felony convictions was indicted by a grand jury this week on a charge of possessing a firearm.
On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Rober B. Handberg of the Middle District of Florida announced the return of an indictment charging Dominick Yvon Louissaint with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In addition, the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition involved in this offense.
According to the Sanford Police Department arrest report, an officer responded to the 1000 block of Cedar Creek Circle at around 4:30 p.m. on January 24, 2024, regarding a possible burglary incident. A caller had advised that three masked men were seen entering an apartment through the back.
The report stated that upon arrival, the officer observed “multiple male subjects” sitting in front of an apartment. After parking the patrol vehicle, the officer approached the individuals near the front of the apartment unit and instructed them to “show their hands.”
One of those individuals, identified in the report as Louissaint, began to run toward one of the apartments, and the officer pursued him on foot. Louissaint was apprehended inside of the apartment complex, and the officer escorted him to the ground with assistance from a nearby officer.
While Louissaint was being escorted to a patrol vehicle, he allegedly stated that he had a firearm near his right ankle. One of the officers located and retrieved a Taurus firearm near Louissaint’s right ankle, according to the report.
During a pat-down search of Louissaint, the report stated that a box of 9mm ammunition and two ski masks were also found.
According to the indictment, Louissaint has previously been convicted of felonies on three occasions. The indictment alleges that Louissaint possessed the firearm on January 24, 2024, despite knowing that he is a convicted felon and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Sanford Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Varadan.
If convicted, Louissaint faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
Louissaint is scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. on April 17, 2024, according to Seminole County court records.